MANAGEMT 7130OL - Systems Thinking

Online - Online Teaching 6 - 2021

Many of today's complex challenges cannot be tackled with the narrowly-focused, unconnected thinking of the past. Managers must make decisions and take action in complex environments in which finance, economics, markets, people and nature are interconnected and interdependent. This `messy? interconnectedness blurs the boundaries between organisations, communities and fields of expertise ? nothing is neat and tidy. Systems thinking focuses on the relationships among system elements and the interactions of the system with its environment, as opposed to focusing on the elements themselves. It is holistic (integrative) thinking instead of analytic (dissective) thinking. This course will introduce you to the world of systems and systems thinking. We will consider the merits of looking at wholes, rather than unconnected parts, and we will explore ways in which managers can make use of the nature of systems, even in complex, unpredictable environments, to influence outcomes in a more profound way than can be achieved with `linear? or `mechanistic? thinking.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MANAGEMT 7130OL
    Course Systems Thinking
    Coordinating Unit Management
    Term Online Teaching 6
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s Online
    Units 3
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Course Description Many of today's complex challenges cannot be tackled with the narrowly-focused, unconnected thinking of the past. Managers must make decisions and take action in complex environments in which finance, economics, markets, people and nature are interconnected and interdependent. This `messy? interconnectedness blurs the boundaries between organisations, communities and fields of expertise ? nothing is neat and tidy. Systems thinking focuses on the relationships among system elements and the interactions of the system with its environment, as opposed to focusing on the elements themselves. It is holistic (integrative) thinking instead of analytic (dissective) thinking. This course will introduce you to the world of systems and systems thinking. We will consider the merits of looking at wholes, rather than unconnected parts, and we will explore ways in which managers can make use of the nature of systems, even in complex, unpredictable environments, to influence outcomes in a more profound way than can be achieved with `linear? or `mechanistic? thinking.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Mr David Pender

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. Combine the elements of complexity and systems with the role of connectedness to gain a better insight into local and global issues.
    2. Discriminate between the structural components of systems and how they shape system behaviour.
    3. Choose appropriate system locations to intervene when system change is required.
    4. Compare and resolve the archetypal patterns of systems dynamics that may give rise to unintended consequences of systems interventions.
    5. Propose systems interventions in an insightful way within identified boundaries.
    6. Diagnose uncertain, messy systems environments and the issues that emerge from complex living systems.


    University Graduate Attributes

    No information currently available.

  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Meadows DH, 2008, Thinking in Systems: A Primer, Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction VT
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Detail Due Weiughting CLOs Related weeks
    1: Investigative report - interpreting the root beer game End of week 2 20% CLO 1,2 Weeks 1 & 2
    2. Research report - systems based interention End of week 4 30% CLO 1,2,3,4 Weeks 1-4
    3. Case study analysis End of week 6 40% CLO 4,5,6 Weeks 1-5
    4. Critical business reflection End of week 6 10% All All
    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

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    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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